Q. When the Joint Commission grants an organization an extension for one or more PFI items, does the organization receive a new six-month window beyond the newly approved completion date?
A. The universal answer is "no". Organizations are not given an automatic additional six months extended completion date. When requesting a one-time extension it is our expectation that the revised completion date has been thoroughly considered, major impediments are cleared, and the new date is accurate.
The original six months was a grace period allowance to cover unforeseen conditions. To give an additional six month extension would, in essence, grant a one-year minimum extension.
The Joint Commission will review, on a case-by-case basis, extension dates that have not been achieved. Under extraordinary conditions, a further extension may be granted. This will be the rare exception to our policy of a one-time extension based on unforeseen conditions.